THE UTOPIAN DREAMS OF THOMAS PAINE

There is no question that Thomas Paine was a brave man. When he wrote Common Sense and The American Crisis, Paine earned the ire of the English government. His publication of Part 1 of The Rights of Man aroused the anger of the English government once again. His publication of Part 2 of The Rights of Man earned him a death sentence. Fortunately for Paine, when the trial took place in England, he was in France and not available to be hung.

What is debatable is Paine’s wisdom. It is a curious characteristic of men that until we are punished for our excesses we never seem to know when to stop. When all is said and done, we are too much like the lower creatures over which we were given dominion. We too must learn by trial and error. Whereas success teaches us recklessness, failure teaches a necessary caution.

Because it too much served the elites, at first Paine advocated a reduction in government powers. Then, to ensure the prosperity of the poor, Paine advocated government welfare for the poor (See here, for example.). Why? It is instructive to read Paine’s introduction to Part II of The Rights of Man. Paine honestly believed in the perfectibility of man and the power of human reason.

What Archimedes said of the mechanical powers, may be applied to Reason and Liberty. “Had we,” said he, “a place to stand upon, we might raise the world.”

The revolution of America presented in politics what was only theory in mechanics. So deeply rooted were all the governments of the old world, and so effectually had the tyranny and the antiquity of habit established itself over the mind, that no beginning could be made in Asia, Africa, or Europe, to reform the political condition of man. Freedom had been hunted round the globe; reason was considered as rebellion; and the slavery of fear had made men afraid to think.

But such is the irresistible nature of truth, that all it asks,- and all it wants,- is the liberty of appearing. The sun needs no inscription to distinguish him from darkness; and no sooner did the American governments display themselves to the world, than despotism felt a shock and man began to contemplate redress.

The independence of America, considered merely as a separation from England, would have been a matter but of little importance, had it not been accompanied by a revolution in the principles and practice of governments. She made a stand, not for herself only, but for the world, and looked beyond the advantages herself could receive. Even the Hessian, though hired to fight against her, may live to bless his defeat; and England, condemning the viciousness of its government, rejoice in its miscarriage.

As America was the only spot in the political world where the principle of universal reformation could begin, so also was it the best in the natural world. An assemblage of circumstances conspired, not only to give birth, but to add gigantic maturity to its principles. The scene which that country presents to the eye of a spectator, has something in it which generates and encourages great ideas. Nature appears to him in magnitude. The mighty objects he beholds, act upon his mind by enlarging it, and he partakes of the greatness he contemplates.- Its first settlers were emigrants from different European nations, and of diversified professions of religion, retiring from the governmental persecutions of the old world, and meeting in the new, not as enemies, but as brothers. The wants which necessarily accompany the cultivation of a wilderness produced among them a state of society, which countries long harassed by the quarrels and intrigues of governments, had neglected to cherish. In such a situation man becomes what he ought. He sees his species, not with the inhuman idea of a natural enemy, but as kindred; and the example shows to the artificial world, that man must go back to Nature for information.

From the rapid progress which America makes in every species of improvement, it is rational to conclude that, if the governments of Asia, Africa, and Europe had begun on a principle similar to that of America, or had not been very early corrupted therefrom, those countries must by this time have been in a far superior condition to what they are. Age after age has passed away, for no other purpose than to behold their wretchedness. Could we suppose a spectator who knew nothing of the world, and who was put into it merely to make his observations, he would take a great part of the old world to be new, just struggling with the difficulties and hardships of an infant settlement. He could not suppose that the hordes of miserable poor with which old countries abound could be any other than those who had not yet had time to provide for themselves. Little would he think they were the consequence of what in such countries they call government.

If, from the more wretched parts of the old world, we look at those which are in an advanced stage of improvement we still find the greedy hand of government thrusting itself into every corner and crevice of industry, and grasping the spoil of the multitude. Invention is continually exercised to furnish new pretences for revenue and taxation. It watches prosperity as its prey, and permits none to escape without a tribute.

As revolutions have begun (and as the probability is always greater against a thing beginning, than of proceeding after it has begun), it is natural to expect that other revolutions will follow. The amazing and still increasing expenses with which old governments are conducted, the numerous wars they engage in or provoke, the embarrassments they throw in the way of universal civilisation and commerce, and the oppression and usurpation acted at home, have wearied out the patience, and exhausted the property of the world. In such a situation, and with such examples already existing, revolutions are to be looked for. They are become subjects of universal conversation, and may be considered as the Order of the day.

If systems of government can be introduced less expensive and more productive of general happiness than those which have existed, all attempts to oppose their progress will in the end be fruitless. Reason, like time, will make its own way, and prejudice will fall in a combat with interest. If universal peace, civilisation, and commerce are ever to be the happy lot of man, it cannot be accomplished but by a revolution in the system of governments. All the monarchical governments are military. War is their trade, plunder and revenue their objects. While such governments continue, peace has not the absolute security of a day. What is the history of all monarchical governments but a disgustful picture of human wretchedness, and the accidental respite of a few years’ repose? Wearied with war, and tired with human butchery, they sat down to rest, and called it peace. This certainly is not the condition that heaven intended for man; and if this be monarchy, well might monarchy be reckoned among the sins of the Jews.

The revolutions which formerly took place in the world had nothing in them that interested the bulk of mankind. They extended only to a change of persons and measures, but not of principles, and rose or fell among the common transactions of the moment. What we now behold may not improperly be called a “counter-revolution.” Conquest and tyranny, at some earlier period, dispossessed man of his rights, and he is now recovering them. And as the tide of all human affairs has its ebb and flow in directions contrary to each other, so also is it in this. Government founded on a moral theory, on a system of universal peace, on the indefeasible hereditary Rights of Man, is now revolving from west to east by a stronger impulse than the government of the sword revolved from east to west. It interests not particular individuals, but nations in its progress, and promises a new era to the human race.

The danger to which the success of revolutions is most exposed is that of attempting them before the principles on which they proceed, and the advantages to result from them, are sufficiently seen and understood. Almost everything appertaining to the circumstances of a nation, has been absorbed and confounded under the general and mysterious word government. Though it avoids taking to its account the errors it commits, and the mischiefs it occasions, it fails not to arrogate to itself whatever has the appearance of prosperity. It robs industry of its honours, by pedantically making itself the cause of its effects; and purloins from the general character of man, the merits that appertain to him as a social being. It may therefore be of use in this day of revolutions to discriminate between those things which are the effect of government, and those which are not. This will best be done by taking a review of society and civilisation, and the consequences resulting therefrom, as things distinct from what are called governments. By beginning with this investigation, we shall be able to assign effects to their proper causes and analyse the mass of common errors. (from here)

Paine thought he understood the nature of government. He thought he understood the process of reform and the dangers. So he ventured into France during the French Revolution, and he nearly found himself guillotined during the Reign of Terror. As it is, Paine spent nearly a year imprisoned. He escaped with his head only by chance.

It took many more years than Paine had anticipated for anything like a republican government to take root in France. And the experiment in government that Paine helped to start continues.

Just as Paine once found himself absorbed and confounded by that mysterious word “government”, we too are absorbed and confounded today. Each of our elections is a debate over the meaning of “government”. Each election is another step in our Great American Experiment — and CHANGE. We must carefully try understand what each CHANGE is about and anticipate what it will do our way of life — and to our souls. As Paine once learned only too well, it takes more than men and their systems of government to perfect man.

3 thoughts on “THE UTOPIAN DREAMS OF THOMAS PAINE”

This short motto has echoed for centuries. It gave strength to American patriots in 1776 as it propelled them to liberty. This motto is alive and just as appropriate today as it was at the beginning of the Revolution.

Freedom was won, but corruption soon crept in. What was once a proud banner now often strikes terror in the hearts of people.

Have people become too complacent with modern living? Have people forgotten the tyranny of subjugation to a king? Have people forgotten the horrors of slavery? Will they wake up before it is too late?

When the new nation was a toddler, it took on a national bank. Jefferson caused that bank to be closed down, but others kept bringing it back. Today, the national bank is called the Federal Reserve. It should never have existed centuries ago, and it certainly should not exist today.

The present world economic crisis can be traced right to the Federal Reserve. So many nations are linked to the American economy that they are now victims of the Federal Reserve’s manipulation.

Most people mistakenly think that the Federal Reserve is a government bank. If it were, then all the interest it earns would be ploughed back into the American system, hence the national debt would be zero. That is, the Americans would only owe the interest to themselves. However, the interest is collected by individuals and groups. Those who own the Federal Reserve Bank collect the interest for themselves, and make themselves extremely wealthy at the expense of American taxpayers.

The Federal Reserve charges interest on every dollar in existence, whether paper or otherwise. The owners rake off this interest. Many banks have failed, are failing or will soon fail in America. They are failing because the Federal Reserve has become so greedy that banks can barely operate in the environment. The Federal Reserve takes almost all the profits from the banking industry and only provides scraps to its subservient banks.

The banks have to scrape and maul their customers to survive in this critical time. So, the banks become ruthless. Nobody cares for the banks because they are ruthless. Further, many of the banks have turned to unlawful activities just to stay afloat. The cause of all this disarray is the Federal Reserve.

Shut the Federal Reserve down tomorrow and things will begin to improve. Ban any national banks, and it will be a long-term solution. The small group of people who are taking all the interest from the Federal Reserve should be charged and tried for their horrible crimes against all the people in the world.

Not only is America affected, but the entire world is being fleeced by the Federal Reserve, because the whole world is impacted by American commerce and banking.

In these times that try men’s souls, those without souls need to be tried and convicted. They are the culprits. They are the criminals. They are the evil slave masters.

Well, wow. I like when you do these more academic posts, Tom. Learning from history is something we fail to do as a country. So thank you for contributing to the elevation of our minds.

I especially appreciated this quote: “Reason, like time, will make its own way, and prejudice will fall in a combat with interest.”

So, how do you point out this is happening right now when no one will listen? How do we convince our government to stop bankrupting us with their prejudice? (And how do I make this comment box text larger so I don’t make my near-sightedness worse?)

The reason revolution happens as revolution is a direct response to government’s not listening. Revolution will never be timely, as Paine says is more logical because “the people’s” experiences are not the same as the leaders’. For example, I can rant and rave all day long about how PWC has wasted our money. I can speak out only to have them ignore me. I can then march and throw tomatoes if I want in hopes they will listen. “Are you listening NOW?” Yet they can ignore me all they want in spite of the democratic system Paine said is so advanced. Why? Because human beings are human beings. They are self-interested and must work hard not to be so. This takes an effort few politicians are willing to give.

Finally, if Paine could see Europe right at this moment, he might wonder how the great American dream of a superior government managed to subvert us in the eyes of global financiers he believed were a bit inferior.

WBW, I agree and love how you put: “In these times that try men’s souls, those without souls need to be tried and convicted.” But a radical shut-down of the reserve or any part of our economic infrastructure would only yield financial and social choas. We need a better solution, one that includes reducing these criminals to middle class inmates. If the American people feel justice is being done, we will be more likely to invest in a reasonable solution proposed by Congress.

Words From The Past

As I have said, there are two points or two characteristics of the Radical programme which it is your special duty to resist. One concerns the freedom of individuals. After all, the great characteristic of this country is that it is a free country, and by a free country I mean a country where people are allowed, so long as they do not hurt their neighbours, to do as they like. I do not mean a country where six men may make five men do exactly as they like. That is not my notion of freedom.

Speech to the third annual banquet of the Kingston and District Working Men's Conservative Association (13 June, 1883).

'The Marquis Of Salisbury At Kingston', The Times (14 June 1883), p. 7.